AIBU : fuck your pets?

[DameDoom]

I am literally gobsmacked but wonder in my dotage that I am becoming an insular cat lady - well more of one.
I am childless but have two increasingly elderly and doddery cats - they are my babies. Their health problems are minor but like all elderlies they enjoy routine.
Anyway, we are going for 4 nights in the lakes so we can come home if needed (a neighbour will feed and give the odd stroke). I shared this with a friend who was horrified - she has children and told me I was being ridiculous and to go abroad. We always go somewhere hot and usually exotic but I really don't want to leave my vulnerable pets for too long - plus I've never been to the Lakes for a proper holiday.

Well if a UK holiday isn't a proper holiday I've only been on 3 holidays in the last 10 years! As it is we've been in holiday every year , in the uk , taking DDog with us. He doesn't do well in kennels so we book dog friendly holiday cottages. It suits us, and we love the Lakes and New Forest. The 2 times we've been abroad since bringing DDog home, MIL has looked after him.
Pets are part of the family and deserve to have their needs taken into account when planning holidays. That's part of the commitment involved when getting them.

KurriKurri he is beautiful - what a smasher. I will have a dog when I retire.
MrsPresley I agree with everything - bet your dog had a wonderful life

BTW I didn't feel this way until I had a cat that had lived its whole life -
one died at 15 from cancer was put to sleep in my arms. His brother is 17 now and quite frail.

So some posters who might come across a bit blasé about leaving their cats, maybe their cats are still in good health and young. I was like this too.

I think you are either a proper pet person and you 'get it' or you don't, I haven't holidayed in years as my cat is proper crazy, the stress of a cattery would be the end of her and no one can come in to feed her as she refuses to come out (I've cohabited with her for 8 years and my parents and friends have never seen her in the flesh) and the fat bastard boy cat would eat any left out food, but I don't bother telling people why I don't holiday as 99% of people just don't get it, and it's also a huge reason why I prefer animals to people, so yes I am one of those people but I never ever described any of my animals as fur babies or fur kids as that just going to far even for me.

For the record I did not call my cats 'Furbabies'. I did however call them my babies which is also total cringe but they are - and will always be thus.

Sod your friend! You have made a commitment to your pets and that includes considering their needs are different now they're older and a bit doddery. We leave our cats with my parents who lavish them with dreamies but that's cause the cats are young and bouncy and seem to enjoy the trip.

I get that some people don't like pets, but what I don't get is the non-pet people who can't comprehend that others ARE pet people.

I once tried to demonstrate this to a (now ex) friend who was whining about my new kittens. She didn't like the kittens and didn't want to come to my house any more.

Me "OK, I get it. That's fine. Some people don't like cats. But we do."
Her "I still think you're mad for getting them, having to clean up their craps and dish up their rank food. It's fucking bizarre. Anyway are you coming round on Satuday?"
Me "No. You know I can't stand your boyfriend. Plus he stinks of fag ash and keeps making weird inappropriate jokes"
Her "Don't be a bitch. I know you don't like him but will you not just put up with him to see me?"
Me "Well since you won't put up with the kittens....no"
Her "You're being completely unreasonable!!!"

Maybe my ex friend found a new friend and she's you.....

Your cats are important to you and elderly. Why wouldn't you want to holiday locally so you can get home easily if they fall ill? You can go abroad in a few years' time. The pleasure we get from pets is massive in comparison to the pleasure we get from 10 days in the sun somewhere.

You really need to reconsider your thread title

I'm a 'Mammy' and a 'Mammy Cat' and I'm happy to be both, couldn't give a friggy what people think. You sound like a lovely owner (well servant, as we know cats don't have owners )and yes older pets do need more care but your friend is entitled to her opinion as you yours, just don't let it bother you.

Gratuitous shot of my precious princess.

I haven't been anywhere but work for a year, one of my cats is old and sick and I'm not leaving her not even for a weekend.

You're being a good cat mum. Sod her!

I think YABU by assuming that's what she meant and taking so much offense at it..although I wasn't there to see expression and body language shrug. Just sounds like an innocent t to me.

YANBU for not wanting to leave your cats though. That's your choice. I would miss my human children too much to go on a long vaca without them.

innocent comment sorry my ipads gone screwy.

We have a cat sitter who visits twice a day when we are on holiday. As we have recently moved house we are not planning any holidays together for several months becuase we don't want our cat to feel abandoned in the new house.
So no, YANBU. I would do the same thing.

YANBU to go on holiday wherever you like for whatever reasons you like, whether or not your friend thinks they're sensible reasons.

YABU to call your cats your babies, though.

Surely your priorities are your business and not your friends?

I can get a tad obsessive over my pets, but I agree with your friend on this. My parents cat is 22 and has probably been 'old and doddery' for about 8 years. They still go on vacation abroad and he have a family member that will call in to feed the cat.

If you couldn't enjoy going abroad, fair enough, but I think confining yourself to local holidays for a number of years, for the sake of cats (that probably won't care half as much as you think) is pretty extreme.

I am head of heels obsessed with my cat. However, I go abroad regularly and have a cat sitter (who is also besotted with her) who comes in and plays with her, grooms her, and makes sure she is fed and watered every day. She's perfectly happy and I get regular updates and photos. The only thing that would stop me going away (for pleasure - I don't have much choice for work) would be if she was in ill health.

Ddog is 10yo, he comes on holiday with us.
Never been in kennels, when we have had longhaul holidays my mother has stayed here with him.

Last year my ds stayed with him as my mother wasn't well enough. Instead of coming home we stayed in our flat in London, had ds bring ddog up to us on the train. I sold it to him as he'd have a long weekend sightseeing and it'd be nice for us all to see each other after our holiday oh and you may as well bring ddog with you ... mother you don't want to see me just the ddog ... owned completely.